A Rider on a Black Horse with a Pair of Balances in His Hand; and A Pale Horse with Death as Its Rider, from an Apocalypse blockbook, 2nd edition 1440 - 1450

This woodcut, made by an anonymous artist, presents scenes from the Book of Revelation. Here, we are confronted with potent symbols of impending doom. Notice the rider on the black horse, a symbol of famine, holding a pair of balances, traditionally emblems of justice and equilibrium, now instruments of harsh measure. Beside him, Death rides a pale horse, evoking dread and pestilence. These figures are not merely illustrations; they are carriers of collective anxieties, recurring archetypes that tap into a deep-seated fear of societal collapse. Consider the scales: in ancient Egypt, they weighed souls, and in classical art, they were associated with divine justice. Yet here, they signify scarcity and economic disparity, a distortion of their original meaning. It’s as if these symbols carry the weight of history, constantly being reinterpreted through the lens of present fears. The emotional power lies in the visceral representation of destruction. These images linger in the subconscious, reminding us of our vulnerability, a visual echo passed down through generations, each epoch finding new resonance in these age-old motifs.